Former Chelsea midfielder Ji So-yun has joined Birmingham City on a short-term loan deal from Seattle Reign.
The move marks the South Korea internationals return to English football for the first time since her Chelsea departure in 2022.
Ji, 34, has spent the past season and a half in the National Womens Soccer League (NWSL) with Reign, and will now play in Womens Super League 2, English footballs second tier, after Birmingham narrowly missed out on promotion last season.
Im looking forward to playing in England again, Ji said. I like the ambition of the club and I hope I can help Birmingham on their journey to promotion and bring some exciting football for the fans. I am coming here to win.
Ji joined Chelsea in 2014 and spent eight years at the club, winning 13 major trophies, including five WSL titles, as Emma Hayes side established themselves as the dominant force in English football.
The South Korea international was named PFA Player of the Year during her debut season at the club and is regarded as one of the WSLs greatest players.
She departed the club in 2022 and moved to South Korean top-flight side Suwon, before joining Seattle Reign in January 2024.
Ji made 41 appearances in all competitions for Reign, and has started nine of the clubs 18 NWSL fixtures during the 2025 season.
Birmingham finished second in the WSL2 last season, missing out on promotion on the final day of the season to London City Lionesses.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
OL Reign, NWSL, Women’s Soccer
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